Tolkien Book Review: The Fall of Numenor 

It does serve as a handy, well-contained “Here’s what’s wrong with Amazon’s The Rings of Power”, however!

I am still making my way through the book and enjoying it. It was never intended to have new material so I'd say it is exactly what I expected.

Worst thing by far is there isn't a nice fold-out map of Númenor on the inside back cover.

Excellent, sophisticated and balanced review! 👍

I have it and am reading it slowly. Would’ve loved it as a teenager when I was obsessed with the timeline.

Although I love the Hobbit and Lord of the rings I've never been interested in spending money on the biblical/mythological other books, especially the ones that seem lie they are a collection of half completed story notes. Since I didn't have any of those but I was HIGHLY interested in a book that collected the 'facts' of what happened as a backdrop to the finished stories I loved, this book with its history timeline format was just what I wanted. The plethora of art sketches was a needed touch as well since there isn't a narrative to keep you engaged. Actually if it could have had a bunch of charts and tables as well I would have been even more interested! But I recognize I'm in the minority and I think you're right that this book is only for those who didn't already invest in the deeper Tolkein lore.

It's also useful for a simple chronological reading. Also if Amazon buys the rights to this it's very easy to adapt in terms of rights. Now we need the inevitable "The Wars of Arnor and Gondor" to tie in with New Line's new movies to complete a simple reading of the timeline! xD No, but seriously, it's a decent companion to the three great tales books imho.

I think Alan Lee's illustrations are worth it

This is the way I understand the whole thing: all these "extra" books have a reason to exist (or perhaps more than one); however, most people (including myself) don't have a reason to read them. It will be better to read again (and again?) the essential stuff. Thanks for your honest reviews, they're helping a lot.

My thinking is that there is good reason for this book to not exist, and little reason for it to exist. We are fascinated by the story of Atlantis, because it is only mentioned the once by Plato, if it had been mentioned more we would not have been as fascinated. Numenor and its fall should be lost in the mists of time, the mystery makes the history more fascinating. Thanks and keep up the good work.

Definitely bought it to "complete the collection", though I was very surprised at how many blank spaces there were such as having a page with about 10 or so lines of kings, their time, and that is the whole page. It's beautiful, but an odd piece.

Here's the thing: probably for you and for those who have been studying Tolkien's work for a while, it is not particularly useful. However, keep in mind that many parts of the History of Middle-Earth series are very difficult to be accessed by newer readers. I would note that not everything is from the Nature of Middle-Earth by the way. I caught a few quotes from The Peoples of Middle-Earth as well. I think it works well as an introduction to the Second Age, such as leads into The Lord of the Rings. In other words, I think it is better as an introduction. Another thing I noticed it left out, probably because it was not particularly settled, was the coming of Romestámo and Morinehtar. As for Galadriel and Celeborn, I was actually wondering about that: what is the final version of the Sack of Eregion and the War of the Elves and Sauron?

I don’t feel like this is worth having at all. I love Alan Lee’s artwork, but for the price, I have other things that would give me more value for my money. There just doesn’t seem to be anything there that I don’t already have.

I've read Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit several times, but had never read the Silmarillion. I started reading the Great Tales last year. I thought the book was great to read after Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien and The Fall of Gondolin. So for folks who haven't read The Silmarillion or the History of Middle Earth books, I think The Fall of Numenor is a great extension of the Great Tales. Probably very redundant for those who have already read everything. I'm currently reading The Silmarillion, and just posted a comparison of a bunch of editions on my channel.

Thank you! I have a very high regard for Brian Sibley, but I was simply confused by this book. I really don't know who it was aimed at, and therefore I don't see who it could be recommended to....

Thank you for saving me time!

Thanks for taking the time to discus the book.

I don't like that they went with The Fall of Numenor as a title. Not only did Tolkien always refer to that story as The DOWNfall of Numenor, there is also a book called The Fall of Gondolin already. "Downfall" would have been better for this one to differentiate it more and to use the title Tolkien himself always used. But oh well. Also, we all know the real reason for this book to exist: to try and cash in on The Rings of Power TV series raising interest in the Second Age among people who've only read LOTR and The Hobbit (or even just watched the movies). The book was made after the show was announced and released just after the first season finished, I mean, come on.

For convenience sake I think, The Fall of Numenor does make it easier to get the stuff related to Numenor and the Second Age in one place. If one has not read The History of Middle-earth, it is handy so you don't have to go one place here and one place there though I can understand it is guilty of rehashing content. Still respect your take however.

I just finally got my hands on a copy of this book and I'm not surprised about it simply compiling all of the previously published information from Tolkien's Second Age. Like you, however, I feel that the overall structure is strange. For example, as you point out, why break up an already cohesive narrative simply because events happen elsewhere throughout the story. In my opinion, I would have liked to seen the information published as more of a reference, with the specific writings of Tolkien kept intact when possible. Then, instead of dealing with some unnecessary things (like the Third Age appendix) include a descriptive timeline that merges all the information into a cohesive chronology.

I just got a copy for my birthday. I’ll have to see what my response is.

Well I like the book but it has 2 major missing parts in my opinion. 1. There is a whole section from the description of numenor about the Hyarrostar that is completely missing. Bad editing I think. 2. Cant understand why the Stone of Erech and the oath of the men of the white mountains is not included as this is pivotal in the war of the ring. It would have been good to add to the sections about the the Last Alliance

No it didn't. None of the films needed to exist either - the original books were quite successful before they were ever made. The difference is that there was a demand and a market for the films, whereas I'm not sure who this book's intended market was. Hardcore Tolkien fans who had read everything else Tolkien-related under the sun, and were starved enough to buy it, I suppose. Personally, just reading a few reviews on Amazon told me there was nothing fresh here except some nice new illustrations.

But man what a pretty wallflower it is, ha! I did enjoy the book on audio I found it to just be a new way to digest the content I love already, an in no way a new introduction to anything. The price of the book was a bit to high in my opinion for what we got. All that said, I so respect and admire Brian Sibley’s life of work on Tolkien, I’ll always support his endeavors!

I have a question that might provide this book a reason to exist. Is it possible that this book was produced not for those fans who are already Tolkien acolytes, but was created to combat the pathetic malcontented RoP by Amazon? I seem to recall both occurring at the same time, and, in this instance, might not having the detailed creation of the Second Age actually better provide the uninitiated an easy Second Age reference guide?

My Tolkien library is relatively small, I don't have Unfinished Tales. Besides the Hobbit and LOTRs I have just started reading the Silmarillion. On my shelf to read after that I have The Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien, and The Fall of Godolin. I am pretty sure I will get The Fall of Numenor for Christmas, so my question is what does Unfinished Tales include that isn't included in the books I have plus The Fall of Numenor? I was thinking that in addition to the Hobbit, LOTR and the Silmarillion that The Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien, The Fall of Godolin and the The Fall of Numenor would give me a basic library of all three ages of Middle Earth. I know most collectors would have already had Unfinished Tales, but not sure what isn't included in the books I already have after I get The Fall of Numenor for Christmas?

Was it written by The Tolkien Himself, or edited by His Annointed Heir? No? Then I'm not interested.

I think the story of Numenor is fascinating. But in this book there is a LOT of stuff I've already read and would've not necessarily want to read again: For example the story of Aldarion and Erendis which is in my opinion the most annoying and boring story in Tolkien legendarium.

My hopes for the book had been that it republishes all the texts that we have of the 2nd age that have been published in several different books. Especially since a few texts have been split up. x.x I would have liked a collection of the 2nd age texts, but this book is kind of useless now.

So I should just go and get Nature of Middle Earth instead? Gotcha.

The incompleteness is really annoying with these. I remember being so excited for the children of Hurin and then being really annoyed that they left out Hurin slaying Mim, and the reunion of Hurin and Morwen. It really annoyed me. Why leave that out when you're already stretching for novel length

Won't read anything outside of J.R.R. or Christopher.

Indeed it did not😅😅😅😅

The middle earth content people are useless for this. I can't take any of your book reviews seriously because you people are complete hypocrites who rate things differently based on who wrote/compiled it. If CT did it, then it's golden. If someone else does the same thing, they get attacked. Oh it's weird. You mean unlike every other Middle earth books post JR except maybe Children of Hurin? How are Silm and Beren + Luthien not weird? Beren and Luthien has a giant poem in the middle and doesn't even include the CANON VERSON OF THE TALE IT'S SO BAD, RECYCLED CONTENT, MONEY GRUBBING AND DECEPTIVE. But CT blessed, so all is well. Every criticism you're levying goes a hundred times over for something like Beren and Luthien, but you gave that one a positive review because CT. I have no idea if the book is good based on something like your review. It might be much better than the Beren and Luthien's because you're reviewing it on a CT less curve or it could just be bad.